Wander Franco was arrested in the Dominican Republic following a gun-related incident

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who already faces a December trial on charges of having a relationship with a minor, was arrested Monday in the Dominican Republic following a weapons-related incident.

Franco was involved in an altercation in San Juan de la Maguana on Sunday in which guns were drawn in the parking lot of an apartment complex. According to the Dominican newspaper Listin Diario, he was held for questioning along with another man and a woman in what police said began as “a heated argument of a passionate nature.”

Franco’s lawyer in the Dominican Republic told the Tampa Bay Times he hopes his client will be quickly acquitted as part of the investigation.

“So it is,” said Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación, “and so it will be.”

Neither the Rays nor Major League Baseball commented on the latest development Monday.

Videos of the alleged incident posted on social media showed a chaotic scene involving several people; Police said they received a 911 call about the incident and arrived amid verbal and physical confrontations.

Juan Recio, a Dominican lawyer and ESPN writer who first reported the story, told the Times that charges have not yet been filed against Franco because under Dominican law police have 48 hours after an arrest to do so .

“They are just detaining him to determine if the gun they confiscated is his and if it is illegal,” Recio said.

It was unclear Monday whether Franco had a license to carry a weapon or whether the weapon was registered at the scene.

Hector Gomez, another prominent Dominican journalist, called the situation “unfortunate” for Franco, who made the 2023 American League All-Star team and was considered one of the game’s brightest young players.

“This is a situation that unfortunately contributes to several unfortunate incidents involving Wander Franco,” Gomez said. “There aren’t many details, but it is said that Wander was with a woman who was in a relationship with another man, although these are just rumors. However, his imprisonment has been confirmed. This is very unfortunate because Wander has other outstanding legal issues with the Dominican justice system.”

Franco, 23, is scheduled for trial on December 12 on charges of human trafficking, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor in connection with a relationship with a then-14-year-old girl that began in December 2022 (when Franco was 21). . ). He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Franco has not played for the Rays since allegations about the relationship first surfaced in August 2023. He has been on the MLB suspended list since mid-July of this year and has not received the remainder of his $2 million salary. He is scheduled to make $8 million in 2025 as part of the $172 million remaining on the 11-year, $182 million contract he signed after his debut season in 2021.

Franco is also being investigated by the MLB under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policies and could face disciplinary action from the league until the legal issues are resolved.

San Juan de la Maguana, the scene of the incident, is about two hours’ drive west of Franco’s home in Bani, near the capital Santo Domingo. While he awaits trial, he is free to travel within the country.